Cravings are a normal part of life but learning to control unhealthy food cravings is an essential part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Unhealthy cravings can lead to overeating or overindulging in unhealthy foods, which can lead to weight gain and a host of other serious health issues. Making healthier food choices and avoiding unhealthy cravings can help reduce stress, improve mental health and finally lead you to the body of your dreams. Here's 5 ways to control and fight unhealthy cravings.
1. Identify your triggers
Before you can start to manage your cravings, it’s important to understand what’s causing them to begin with. Is it boredom? Stress? A certain time of day? Once you identify your triggers, you can start to plan ahead and make healthier choices instead.
2. Eat regular meals
Skipping meals can cause your blood sugar levels to drop and can lead to cravings. Try to eat regular meals throughout the day and include a balance of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats.
3. Keep healthy snacks on hand
Cravings often strike when you’re hungry. To avoid this, stock up on healthy snacks like nuts, fruits and vegetables, yogurt, and granola bars so you’ll have something to reach for when cravings hit.
4. Distract yourself
When a craving strikes, try to distract yourself with something else. Go for a walk, read a book, call a friend, or do some yoga. Often times, boredom can trigger our cravings so doing something to occupy your mind and body can help fight those cravings a lot.
5. Practice mindful eating
When you do eat, make sure to eat slowly and pay attention to how your body feels. Don’t eat on the go or multitask while you eat. Keeping a food journal can also help with mindful eating as it allows you to reflect on what and how much you've been eating.
At the end of the day, it's important to remember that unhealthy food cravings are a normal part of life. They are often caused by external or internal factors, and it's important to be aware of what triggers them. Through identifying triggers, eating regular meals, healthy snacking, distraction, and mindful eating, you can fight unhealthy food cravings and make healthier food choices, letting you live your healthiest best life and achieve the body of your dreams!